Features
Paula Lindo
The Torrance Mohammed Foundation will host a tribute to the cultural icon on May 30 at Mille Fleurs, Port of Spain. Foundation chairman Deron Attz said the tribute will be held a year after Mohammed’s death during a robbery on May 24, 2021.
In an interview with Newsday, Attz said many cultural icons have been lost over the past two years, both to Covid19 and to crime.
“We lost Muhammad to crime, and on the anniversary of his death, we are coming together for a reflection on his work, giving people the opportunity to showcase all the things he loved.
“We did a tribute last year in the South and we’re wrapping it up in the North this year for people who might not have been able to come to the South. His legacy is as a national cultural icon and he was a lover of Trinidad and Tobago.a true Trinbagonian.
“His close family members will be there and we thought this was a good time to show and highlight in a positive way that it has been a year since his sudden death.”
He said the theme of the show is “Reflect and Remember” and a return to innocence
Attz said the event would be a celebration of the things Muhammad loved, including an art exhibit, a product display and sweet treats.
“He really valued culture, in all its forms of ritual, folk, drum, dance, so there will be presentations from different organizations and we will be doing presentations for the organization. Richard Ramirez is donating a book to the foundation. DADL Clothing will have a fashion show in collaboration with San Fernando Fashion Week. We will invite the mayor of Port of Spain.
“Next, the foundation will also talk about what it plans to do for the coming year in his honor.”
Some of the performers at the event will be National Cultural Action Committee (NACC) New King Addelon “Banjela” Braveboy, Ibis Dance Group, NLCB Managing Director Fonclaire Darren Sheppard, Arawaks Dance Group, Women of Color Scotland and others.
“Mohammed was a lover of culture, he embraced all aspects of culture, he was never one-dimensional. As an Indo-Trinidadian his mantra was to always: holistically embrace all aspects of our culture and whatever we are doing in his name should represent that,” said Attz.
He said the foundation has already carried out several initiatives in Muhammad’s honor since his death and has plans for more.
“So far we have been able to work together with the San Fernando City Corporation to honor him with a street name. This was done.
“We also hope to go back to his birthplace in Princes Town to put up a plaque and that is in the works for later this year.
“So we’re touching on all those areas in terms of where it originated, and then it developed into San Fernando and then Trinidad.
“We will have the Torrance Mohammed Cultural and Arts Camp: which will start immediately after the CXC exams are over, when the July/August vacations begin. We will aim to identify 30 children and take them through the whole process of understanding, appreciation, knowledge skills, dance, theatre, writing, songwriting, culture, what have you. We will try to strengthen and perfect the consciousness of TT culture among the youth. In the end we will get sponsors to give donations and contributions to the most promising people.”
Attz said the foundation was in an ongoing process of keeping Muhammad’s legacy in an area related to what he was able to achieve and to continue to appreciate his place, space, culture and heritage.
To reserve seats, email [email protected].
